Beyza ETÖZ

Hello everyone!

I am Beyza Etöz. I spent two months as an ESC volunteer in Treviso, Italy. I had taken part in an Erasmus project before, but this was my first volunteering experience abroad.

My Project

The main aim of my project was to run interactive English lessons with primary-school children from migrant families. With the teachers’ support we did this through play.

Depending on the class level we used children’s songs, colouring activities and different educational games. Because most of our pupils already came from bicultural families, I also had the chance to introduce Turkish culture and share what I love about it.

What This Experience Gave Me

Through this experience I learned how to communicate with children and build a bond with them. I learned how to design games for a particular age group and keep a lesson flowing.

Working with the teachers also let me develop a different way of communicating, across both cultural and generational differences. As in any relationship built on affection and respect, I had the chance to encounter differences of religion, language and background up close. The experience showed me once again that there is nothing to fear in difference.

Thank You

Finally, thank you to KOZ-DER for making this possible, to the CEPHI team on the Italian side and to everyone who supported me throughout.

It was both an instructive and an unforgettable volunteering journey.